US3438065A - Vandalproof,concealed anchor for plumbing fixture - Google Patents

Description

April 1969 E. L. MORRIS 3,438,065

VANDALPROOF, CONCEALED ANCHOR FOR PLUMBING FIXTURE Filed July 22, 1966 [NI/EN 1'02.

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United States Patent 0 3,438,065 VANDALPROOF, CONCEALED ANCHOR FOR PLUMBING FIXTURE Earl L. Morris, 1501 N. Cloister Road, Whittier, Calif. 90603 Filed July 22, 1966, Ser. No. 567,151

Int. Cl. E03c 1/00 US. Cl. 4191 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a vandalproof, concealed anchor, plumbing fixture for use with a structural partition having a port therethrough, the fixture having a rearward face and a fluid passage therethrough, the passage having an enlarged bore with its axis perpendicular to the rearward face, a unitary anchor element including a tubular forward body portion received in the enlarged bore of the fixture when the body extends through the partition port and having oppositely extending anchor flange portions between the forward body and a rear supply portion, means for locking the fixture against rotation with respect to the partition, and concealed but externally accessible locking means carried by the fixture cooperating with the tubular body portion to hold the fixture against axial movement with respect to the anchor element.

I In general, the present invention relates to a vandalproof, concealed-anchor plumbing fixture for use with a structural partition having a port therethrough whereby the rigidity of the partition is efiectively utilized to prevent unauthorized removal of the fixture by twisting or pulling. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a compact, lightweight and inexpensive device which is free from numerous adjustable parts and which is attachable to a partition or hollow standard for use with various plumbing fixtures such as shower heads, soap "dispensers, water temperature control valves and the like; it is extremely useful, particularly when installed in public institutions, schools, air terminals, railway stations and the like subject to vandalism, as the fixtures cannot be removed without the use of tools or cutting devices, except by someone having knowledge of the manner in which the parts of the fixture cooperate.

It is well known that plumbing fixtures, such as shower heads, when installed in institutions or public places for the convenience of the general public, are likely to be tampered with or twisted off or unscrewed and carried away by vandals. Losses so caused represent large sums of money and the replacement of the fixtures often greatly exceeds their monetary value or the goodwill generated by making them available to the public. The invention considered herein is easily installed by a licensed plumber, but by the use of certain concealed cooperative locking arrangements it is virtually impossible for a vandal unequipped with tools, or the knowledge of the placement of the anchor devices, to remove the plumbing fixtures.

Prior plumbing fixtures directed to this problem of vandalism have generally been secured to the wall or partition of the plumbing unit, such as a shower unit, from the rear so that they could not be tampered with. It was therefore necessary to have access to the unit from the rear to repair or to remove the fixtures. Since such plumbing fixtures are normally mounted on shower units which are either back-to-back or are circular and it is very difiicult or impossible to get behind the partition of the unit after it had been installed, it was necessary to provide access panels for the fixtures at substantial added expense. The fixture contemplated by the present invention permits external access for the securement of the fixture to tighten it in place, or to remove a damaged fixture and replace it, or to replace a fixture with another model or kind of fixture. Thus, no access panel is required.

An object of the invention is to provide a vandalproof plumbing fixture including cooperating elements which prevent the fixture from being readily twisted oil or unscrewed from its associated pipe or conduit by a vandal.

Another object is to provide a wall mounted plumbing fixture which cooperates with a concealed anchor element and a wall or structural partition to discourage and prevent unauthorized removal of the fixture.

A further object of the invention is to provide a virtually vandalproof plumbing fixture wherein the rigidity of the wall or structural partition on which the fixture is mounted is utilized in preventing unauthorized removal.

A further object is to provide a form of vandalproof plumbing fixture wherein the shape of the fixture and of the structural partition on which the fixture is mounted are utilized to prevent twisting oil or unscrewing of the fixture.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following description of an illustrative embodiment shown in the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of one of the embodiments of this invention, in installed position, a portion being in vertical section.

FIG. 2 is a transverse section taken along the plane II-II.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken along the plane IlI-Ill.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section of a modified form of plumbing fixture.

The main elements embraced by the present invention comprise a structural panel or wall member, generally indicated at It, a rearwardly disposed anchor element indicated at 2 and a plumbing fixture 3 (the precise illustrated embodiment showing a shower head attached thereto). Initially, a suitable opening or aperture 10 is formed in the partition and the anchor element and its associated piping is first installed from the rear of the partition.

As illustrated, the anchor element 2 is unitary and has a forwardly extending tubular body portion 11, a rear fluid supply portion 12 and two pairs of laterally and oppositely extending anchor flange portions 131 lying in a plane transverse to the axis of the tubular portion 11 and positioned between the forward body 11 and the rear supply portion 12. One pair of the anchor flange portions 13 extend vertically while one pair extend horizontally to provide reinforcement and stability to the fixture. An open-ended fluid channel 14- extends through the tubular body and the fluid supply port. Means are provided on the fluid supply portion for connecting one or more supply conduits to such a channel; as indicated, such means may comprise the internally threaded open end 15 adapted to threadedly receive a fluid supply pipe 16.

Means are provided on the horizontally extending anchor flan e portions 13 for engaging headed fastening means whereby the anchor element may be attached to the partition 1. As best shown in FIG. 3, the flange 13 may be provided with internally threaded bore 17 adapted to receive the connecting elements 18, such elements being illustrated as filister head cap screws.

The plumbing fixture 3 includes a bore 21 adapted to slidably encompass and sealingly fit the forward body portion 11 of the anchor element. In some instances it is desirable that the forward tubular body portion 11 has a forward section of smaller diameter than the rearward section (as illustrated) whereupon the bore 21 is similarly stepped; a shoulder or inclined face between the sections of different diameter acts as a stop and additional seal. Moreover, the forward tubular body portion of the anchor element may be provided with a recess adapted to receive and hold an O-ring or other sealing ring 27 which insures a waterproof, pressure-proof seal. The bore 21 is in communication with an outlet port 22 adapted to threadedly receive either a shower fixture such as is shown at 23, or other device such as a soap dispenser, depending upon the character of the fluid being supplied to the entire plumbing fixture.

The plumbing fixture 3 is also provided with a flange portion 24 presenting a rearward face 25, such face including rearwardly opening recesses 28. These recesses are adapted to snugly receive and cover the heads of the cap screws on other headed fastening elements, as best shown in FIG. 3, when said rearward face 25 is pressed against the face of the partition 1. Cooperation of the headed fastening elements with the recesses 28 prevents the fixture 3 from being rotated.

Further means are provided for preventing ready removal of the fixture. The flange 24 is preferably provided with one or more radially extending threaded bores, such as 30, each of said bores being adapted to receive a set screw or the like whereby the set screws may be placed in engagement and forcible contact with the body portion of the unitary anchor element. After being locked into position, the threaded lbOIeS 30 may be capped with a cementing material so as to completely conceal the fastening elements. In this manner, the fixture is held against axial movement with respect to the tubular body.

From the description and the drawings, it will be seen that there has been provided a very simple, easily installed combination of elements whereby cooperation of the elements with a structural partition is insured (thereby adding to the rigidity and stability of the entire assembly) and that portion of the fixture which extends into view is rigidly connected to an anchor element by means which are not obvious to casual inspection. As a result, vandalism is defeated. The fixture cannot be removed by rotation nor by axial movement since there is cooperation between the concealed unitary anchor element and the fixture.

As previously indicated, the rear portion of the anchor element may be formed as a T so as to be able to receive supplies of fluids from dilferent conduits and the exact fixture attached to the body 3 may also vary. All changes and modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified form of the invention mounted on a cylindrical standard or column 33 which constitutes a structural partition. The illustrated column 33 is double-walled, including an inner column wall 32 and an outer column wall or shell 31. The outer wall 31 may be integral with the inner wall 32 which contains suitable water lines (not shown) or the outer wall 31 may be separate with the inner wall 32 defining a soap tank. In either case one or more plumbing fixtures 38 such as soap dispensers or shower heads may be supported on the column 33. In general, for each fixture 38 a two-part anchor element 34 extends forwardly through an aperture or opening 36 in the column 33 and is connected to the fixture. The rear of each fixture 38 has a concave cvlindrical shape to conform to the convex cylindrical column so that the fixture cannot rotate while it is held against the column.

More particularly, the anchor element 34 shown in FIG. 4, includes a rear sleeve part 48 having a forward internally threaded connector portion 50 and a rearwardly extending tubular portion 52. The rear sleeve part 48 is secured to the column 33 with the connector portion 50 extending through the opening 36. In this regard, the rear sleeve part 48 also includes a flange portion 56 that extends around the outside of the connector portion 50. The flange portion 56 abuts and is secured to the inside of the inner wall 32 of the column 33 as by means of brazing. The outer end of the connector portion t) extends only a short distance outwardly of the inner wall 32 to permit assembly of the inner wall within the outer wall 31 after the sleeve parts 48 are secured in place. The anchor element 34 also includes a forward part 40 having a forwardly extending tubular body portion 42, an enlarged threaded intermediate portion 44 which threads into the connector portion 50, and a rear tubular portion 46 which is slidably and sealingly received in the rear portion 52 of the sleeve part 34. A seal may be provided as by means of an O-ring disposed in an annular groove around the rear portion 46 of the forward part 40. An open-ended fluid channel 58 extends through the two parts 40, 48.

The fixture 38 includes a bore 60 adapted to slidably receive and sealingly fit the forward body portion 42 of the front part 40. An O-ring 62 is provided in an annular groove around the body portion 42. The bore 60 is in communication with an outlet port 64 adapted to receive a device such as a shower head 66. If inner wall 32 defines a soap tank, the fixture may be a push-button type of dispenser. The fixture 38 is also provided with a flange portion 68 presenting a rearward face 70, which face defines a surface that is a section of a vertical circular cylinder. The face '70 is adapted to snugly mate with the circular cylindrical outer surface of the outer wall 31 of the column 33 when the fixture 38 is pressed rearwardly against the partition. The cooperation of the concave face 70 with the mating convex outer surface of the column 33 prevents the fixture 38 from being rotated. The fixture 38 may be held against axial movement with respect to the body portion 42 in a manner similar to that by which the fixture 3 is held against axial movement, i.e., by use of concealed set screws in radially extending threaded bores.

I claim:

1. A vandalproof, concealed anchor plumbing fixture for use with a structural partition having a port therethrough, comprising:

a plumbing fixture having a rearward face and a fluid passage through said fixture, said passage including an enlarged bore with its axis perpendicular to said face and opening in said face;

a unitary anchor element having a forward tubular body portion, a rear fluid supply portion and laterally and oppositely extending anchor flange portions between said forward body and rear supply portions, said tubular body being slidably and sealingly received in the enlarged bore of the fixture when said body extends through a port in a partition with said anchor flange portions in contact with the rear face of such partition;

headed fastening means adapted to extend through a partition to engage, position and hold said anchor element with respect to such partition;

rearwardly opening recesses in the rear face of the fixture to snugly receive and cover the heads of said fastening means and lock the fixture against rotation, and concealed locking means carried by the fixture and cooperating with the tubular body to hold the fixture against axial movement with respect to the anchor element.

2. A vandalproof plumbing fixture as stated in claim 1, wherein the locking means includes a flange provided with said rearward face; a radially extending internally threaded bore in said flange communicating with the enlarged bore in said fixture; and a set screw in said threaded bore and in forcible contact with the body portion of the anchor element.

3. A vandalproof, concealed anchor plumbing fixture for use with a structural partition having a port therethrough, comprising:

a plumbing fixture having a rearward face and a fluid passage through said fixture, said passage including an enlarged bore with its axis perpendicular to said face and open at said face;

an anchor element having a forward tubular body portion, a rear fluid supply portion, and an anchor flange 6 portion between said forward body and said rear fines a concave cylindrical surface adapted to mate with supply portions, said tubular body portion being slida complementary convex cylindrical outer surface of the ably and sealingly received in the enlarged bore of partition. the fixture when said body portion extends through a References Cited port in a partition with said anchor flange portion 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS in contact w1th a rear face of such partition; means on said fixture for locking said fixture against 1,137,556 4/1915 Von Glahn 4 191 X rotation with respect to such partition; and 1,537,194 5/1925 Rogers 4191 X concealed but externally accessible locking means car- 1,552,501 9/1925 Panhorst 1,994,789 3/1935 Redmond et al 4191 ried by the fixture for cooperating with the tubular m body portion to hold the fixture against axial move- I ment with respect to the anchor element. PATRICK LAWSON [mm y 4. A vandalproof concealed anchor plumbing fixture U S C1 XR as defined in claim 3, wherein said means for locking the fixture against rotation with respect to the partition de- 15

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